Sermons

Everything we have comes from You…
- Diana Hall, 2 Sept 2018

Who can tell me what Richard Branson, David Sainsbury, Ann Gloag
and Bill Gates have in common?
Well, apart from the fact that they’re billionaires, each of them
is a signatory to the Giving Pledge. The Giving Pledge is an
invitation for billionaires ...

The second part of a sermon series on St Paul's letter to the
Ephesians.

A
little girl asked her Dad “Where did humans come from?”
He answered “God made Adam and Eve; they had children; and the
whole of the human race are their descendants”.
A couple of days later the little girl asked her mum the same
question...
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Spat out by the big fish, Jonah makes his way to Nineveh. But
his biggest challenge is still to come...

The third part of a four part sermon series on Jonah for
#BibleMonth. Listen

The Book of Jonah, Pt 2: In Which Jonah
Reaches Rock Bottom - Diana Hall, 10 June
2018

The
second part of a four part sermon series on Jonah
for #BibleMonth. Listen

The Book of Jonah, Pt 1: In Which Jonah Does Something
Very Sensible - Diana Hall, 3 June
2018During June at St Anne’s we’re taking
part in the Methodist Church’s Bible Month, where churches are
encouraged to spend a month studying a whole book of the bible
together. This year we’re reading Jonah… which isn’t too big
an ask, since it’s only a couple of pages long. In fact you might
ask how we could possibly talk about Jonah for 4 weeks?! Turns
out it’s going to be quite easy, though. Coz if you think Jonah’s
just a children’s morality tale, you may have been missing
something… You’re welcome to listen in. If you’re around
Dunbar there are also bible notes available and an informal
discussion group held at St Anne’s Church on Thursdays from 11-12.
Listen

A Welcome for All - Liz Gordon, 20 August 2017

Do
you know what excites and delights me most about our refurbished
building? Is it the smart new rooms in the tower, is it the wee
secret kitchen at the back of the church or perhaps it's the
sophisticated sound system with all its exciting possibilities?
Well actually, no. My heart sings when ...
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God is Alive, Magic is Afoot - Andrew Bain, 25
June

Jeremiah 20: 7-13; Matthew 10: 24-39So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many
sparrows.
The other night I was waiting for a bus on Fountainbridge in
Edinburgh, the area where Sean Connery famously worked as a milkman
for St Cuthbert’s Store ...
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Meeting the Three Persons of God - Liz
Gordon, 11 June

As has been said, today is Trinity Sunday. When I was studying
to be a lay reader, this wee book (Trinity 101) was the recommended
reading on the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The author begins
chapter four with these words ‘It’s been said that more heresy is
(accidentally) preached on Trinity Sunday than at any other time of
the year.’ ...
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Fake News v The Truth - Andrew Bain, 7
May

“The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that
they may have life and have it more abundantly”.
This is an interesting time to be thinking about this Gospel
against a background claims and counter-claims in the political
arena, where no-one seems able to say with anything even remotely
like confidence just what is true. Jesus warns against false
shepherds ...
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Strangers and Angels - Liz
Gordon, 30 April

Last
week I told you that Peter’s first sermon had spectacular results.
Well, today we see just how well his message was received, because
we read ‘So those who welcomed his message were baptised and
that day about three thousand persons were added to their
number.’ Three thousand! What was it that made Peter such a
powerful messenger? ...
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Faith and Doubt - Liz Gordon, 23
April

“What's that actor called?” “No idea.” “But
they're in lots of things. You know that programme with Judy Dench
and they were in that film with Hugh Grant” “No sorry, can't put a
name to them but you're right they're in loads of
stuff.” Today's readings feature two characters Peter and
Thomas. They've been appearing with Jesus for three years now. One
we’re very familiar with ...
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Hints of Resurrection - Andrew
Bain, 16 April (Easter Sunday)

Matthew is definitely the special effects Gospel
writer. He’s the one who gives us tombs cracking open to yield up
their dead, rocks splitting and the temple curtain dramatically
ripped right down the middle. And he doesn’t disappoint here ...
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The Breath of Life - Andrew Bain, 2 April
(Lent 5)

Ezekiel 37: 1-14; John 11: 1-45

Well, two almost overpoweringly dramatic stories about the God
who raises the dead. “Come from the four winds, O breath, and
breathe upon these slain that they may live.” “Lazarus, come
forth!” This is the stuff of legends ... Download
to keep reading

A Night Vistor - Liz Gordon, 12
March (Lent 2)

Picture a scene from one of those old spy movies.
The streets are dark and our hero is walking rapidly, his coat
collar turned up and his trilby pulled low over his eyes. As he
reaches his destination ...
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An Invitation to Come Home -
Andrew Bain, 5 March (Lent 1)

There’s a wonderful kind of contrast in today’s
readings. On the one hand you get Adam and Eve succumbing to
temptation, though not without a bit of a struggle; and on the
other Jesus winning out over temptation, although again not without
struggle. And what fascinates me is that ...
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Above the Treeline - Andrew
Letby, 26 February

A
book I first read nearly 30 years ago, keeps drawing me back.
‘Above the Treeline’ by Heije Faber. It takes the reader on an
imaginary hike up a mountain. That hike starts in the hustle and
bustle of the contemporary city .... Download
to keep reading

Therefore I tell you, do not worry
- Andrew Bain, 19
February

I
think I’m the kind of person who would actually have to have Jesus
standing in front of me for me to be able to do that or be like
that, and maybe not even then. I’m a professional worrier and I
don’t seem to be able to do much about it ....
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Growing Up in Christ - Liz
Gordon, 12 February

‘I fed you with milk, not solid food, for
you were not yet ready for solid food. Even now you are still not
ready, for you are still of the flesh.’
If you remember, Paul is writing to the Christian church in Corinth
which he’d founded a few years previously. Obviously at that time
they were brand new Christians ... Download
to keep reading

God Needs Us - Andrew
Bain, 5 February

The other night I saw a production of Peter
Schaeffer’s “Amadeus” broadcast live from the National Theatre in
London. If you saw the film years ago, you’ll remember how the
story is told by Mozart’s rival, Antonio Salieri (who confesses
that he was responsible for Mozart’s downfall and even his death).
As an old man he recalls how he had dedicated himself to God almost
as a bargain ... Download
to keep reading

What Can I Give Him?
- Andrew Bain, 29
January

'God is the Lord who has shown us
Light; let us offer in his dwelling an oblation with great
gladness.'

What does it mean to have an
encounter with God and what does it mean for us? And what’s an
oblation anyway?

I
want you to picture a day old baby lying in its little Perspex
crib. It’s been pronounced healthy by the medics and will shortly
be taken home by its parents (they don’t hang around in hospital
these days!) Now this baby has within it everything it needs to
develop into a fully functioning adult ...
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